Gooey Chilli Garlic Sauce
An ode to Lao Gan Ma’s Spicy Chilli Crisp, this gooey chilli garlic sauce is a delicious Chinese style chilli with a crisp, crunchy topper. You’ll want to slap this on every meal, even a slice of toast!
Spicy, salty and garlicky, this addictive umami–packed sauce is full of flavour. What makes this chilli sauce so unique is the mix of the oil and crunch elements. By frying the onion and garlic in the same oil used for the sauce, this chilli crisp delivers a powerful flavour profile and aroma.
Lao Gan Ma aka the Old Godmother
There is a reason why Lao Gan Ma translates into the Old Godmother. This brand has brought so many incredible sauces from China, sharing her secrets with the world. For our gooey chilli garlic sauce recipe, we took inspiration from the classic Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chilli Crisp sauce.
What is a chilli crisp sauce?
Chilli crisp sauce is classified as an infused chilli oil with crunchy bits. While it might seem obvious, it takes 3 elements to make a chilli crisp sauce: the oil, the crisp, and the chilli. It is made by simmering chilli, onion, garlic and seasonings in oil, topped with crunchy bits. Simple, yet flavourful with any meal.
Make it your own
No matter where you are in your chilli journey, you can still enjoy this sauce by customising the heat. Use chilli flakes according to your taste bud preference if you’re still testing the water. And for those who are already in the deep end you can play around by adding different peppers. For an extra punch we have used a teaspoon of Szechuan peppers, but you can also experiment with Serranos, or even Habaneros!
Enjoy with every meal!
The true beauty behind this sauce is its versatility – it literally goes with everything. Add to meats or veggies, Asian curries and stir fries, and even on egg. Or why not give it a try with with our very own loaded flatbread recipe. The shelf life on this sauce is 1 month, so you have plenty time to enjoy it (before making your next batch of course).
If you try this recipe, let us know how it goes! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag your photo #theculinarycartel on Instagram so we can see what you come up with. Happy cooking!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this gluten-free and vegan?
This dish is already gluten-free and vegan! Enjoy!
What is Lao Gan Ma?
Also known as Old Godmother, this is a popular Chinese chilli sauce brand that can be found in most supermarkets.
What if I struggle with spicy food?
You can easily adjust this recipe to suit you. Simply adjust the chilli according to your taste buds.
Gooey Chilli Garlic Sauce
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- Author: Jess Bunn
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 1 Serving
- Diet: Vegan
Description
An ode to Laoganma’s Spicy Chilli Crisp, this gooey chilli garlic sauce is a delicious Chinese style chilli with a crisp, crunchy topper. You’ll want to slap this on every meal, even a slice of toast!
Ingredients
- 1 Onion
- 1/2 bulb Garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup / 20g Chilli flakes (**see notes below)
- 1 tsp / 5g Sugar
- 1 Tbsp /10g Ginger, peeled and grated finely
- 1 1/4 cup Neutral oil (like canola or sunflower)
- 5g Salt (or more to taste)
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 1 Star anise
- 1 tsp Coriander seeds
- 1 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds (optional but awesome)
- 1 Tsp Szechuan pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Thinly slice your onion and garlic.
- Place a small pot over a low to medium heat with the oil, and add the onions, garlic, star anise and cinnamon stick. Gently cook the ingredients until the onions and garlic turn a deep golden colour, about 40-50 minutes.
- To a bowl, add the chilli flakes, grated ginger, sugar, coriander seeds, sesame seeds (optional), and Szechuan pepper (optional). Place a sieve over the bowl, and strain the onion and garlic, allowing the oil to fall into the bowl below and mingle with the chilli flakes. Allow the onion mixture to cool in the sieve (this step results in chewy and crispy onions and garlic). Once the onion mixture has cooled, add the onions back into the chilli oil.
- Season the sauce with salt to taste, and more sugar if needed.
- To serve, spread cream cheese over flatbreads. Top the flatbreads with a fried egg (or two!) and garnish with rocket before spooning over a generous portion of chilli garlic sauce. And if you’re feeling adventurous, make your own flatbread using our loaded flatbread recipe here.
Notes
** The strength of your chilli flakes will vary from brand to brand. If you are concerned, adjust the amount used to suit your heat preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dips, Jams and Sauces
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: Sauce
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 2665.59kcal
- Sugar: 11.7g
- Sodium: 1955.95mg
- Fat: 284.34g
- Carbohydrates: 40.81g
- Fiber: 13.34g
- Protein: 6.82g